to be able to defend ourselves, and I shall engage four men at
Abu Hamed to go with us. I shall leave all my kit here."

It was a pleasant run down the river, to Atbara. The correspondents
were all heartily glad to be on their way home; and the irritation they
had at first felt, at being so suddenly ordered away, at the moment
when so unexpected and interesting a development occurred, had
subsided. They had witnessed one of the most interesting battles ever
fought, had seen the overthrow of the Mahdi, and were looking forward
to European comforts and luxuries again.

At Atbara all left the steamer, which was to take in stores, and go up
again at once; and proceeded, by a military train, with the first of
the returned European regiments.

At Abu Hamed, Gregory left them. His first enquiry was whether any
boats were going down the river. He learned that several native craft
were leaving, and at once engaged a passage in one of them to Hebbeh.
He had no difficulty, whatever, in engaging four sturdy Arabs from
among those who were listlessly hanging round the little station. While
he was doing this, Zaki bought food for six men, for a week; and in
less than two hours from his arrival at Abu Hamed, Gregory was on
board.

The boat at once dropped down the river and, as the current was running
strongly, they were off Hebbeh next morning, at eight o'clock. A boat
put off, and took Gregory and his party ashore. As they were seen to
land, the village sheik at once came down to them.

"Is there anything I can do for my lord?" he asked.

"Yes; I have come here to ascertain whether any of those, who were
present at the attack upon the party who landed from the steamer over
there, are still living here. There is no question of punishment. On
the contrary, I have come here to obtain information as to some private
matters, and anyone who can give me that information will be well
rewarded."

"There are but three men alive who were here at the time, my lord.
There were more, but they fled when the boats with the white troops
came up, from Merawi. I believe they went to the Dervish camp at
Metemmeh.

"The three here are quiet and respectable men. They were asked many
questions, and guided the white officers to the place where Wad Etman
stood--it was there that those who landed from the steamer first
rested--and to the place where the great house of Suleiman Wad Gamr,
Emir of Salamat, stood.

"It was there that the much to be r